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Narrator
Previously on the Chosen People.
Reuben
Because the arrow by itself is nothing.
Narrator
It's weak.
Reuben
It's pathetic. But if that same arrow rests in the hands of a skilled archer, it flies true. I've never been powerful, Elisha. I have never been great. I am an old, tired man.
Narrator
The wind stirred. Elisha sucked in a sharp breath. The river whispered before him, waiting. The choice was his. He exhaled, stood, stepped forward and lifted the mantle high. His voice rang out, steady and unchanged, but but no longer uncertain.
Elisha
Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of Joseph and Moses, God of Elijah, My God, I am your servant. Show me your power.
Podcast Host
This is an I Heart podcast.
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Yael Eckstein
Shalom, my friends. From here in the Holy Land of Israel, I'm Yael Eckstein with International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and welcome to the Chosen People. Each day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible. Stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love and the meaning of life. Through Israel's story, we will find this truth that we are all chosen for something great. So take a moment today to follow the podcast. If you're feeling extra grateful for these stories, we would love it if you left us a review. I read every single one of them and if you're interested in hearing more about the prophetic life saving work of the fellowship, you can visit ifcj.org let's begin.
Advertiser 2
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Advertiser 1
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Narrator
The sound of axes striking wood rang out across the Jordan River. It was the kind of sound that would have been satisfying under different circumstances, maybe even meditative, but today it carried the undeniable undercurrent of inexperience. The Guild of Prophets was not built for this kind of labor. These were not craftsmen or soldiers. They were dreamers, scribes and thinkers, young men learning to hear the voice of God. It was a discipleship school of sorts, though calling it a school was generous. The students worked under the merciless sun, sweat dripping into their eyes as they swung their axes with all the grace of men who had never chopped a tree in their lives. The air was heavy with the earthy scent of wood and the occasional grunt of frustration. Standing a safe distance away, Elisha leaned against a rock, his staff in hand, supervising with the ease of a man who had absolutely no intention of helping Master Elisha.
Reuben
Do you think this is what Elijah had in mind when he passed his mantle?
Narrator
Elisha smirked, a faint glimmer of amusement flashing in his eyes.
Elisha
If you think this is beneath you, Reuben, wait until I send you to dig ditches. You'll miss the glamour of tree cutting.
Narrator
One of the younger students snorted at this, nearly losing his grip on his axe in the process. The blade grazed the trunk awkwardly, sending a spray of splinters into the air. Why do you even need to expand the house anyway?
Elisha
It's fine as it is.
Keisha
It's fine for you. But you're not the one sleeping next to Reuben and his snoring. It's like trying to sleep next to a bullfrog.
Reuben
It's not snoring. It's prophetic breathing.
Keisha
If it's prophetic breathing, then Yahweh must be very annoyed.
Narrator
The group burst into laughter, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Even Elisha chuckled softly, brushing the dust from his robe with an air of mock patience.
Elisha
Enough whining. You're prophets of Yahweh, not poets writing lamentations about how hard your life is. We need the wood, so keep chopping.
Narrator
The laughter faded, replaced by the steady rhythm of axes once more. Keisha muttered something under his breath, earning another smirk from Reuben. Elisha watched them with a faint smile, as though enjoying a private joke they couldn't yet understand. Keisha was Elisha's apprentice, chosen by the Prophet himself, though no one could quite figure out why. Wiry and sharp tongued, Keisha had a knack for asking questions that walked the line between curious and insubordinate. If Elisha found him exasperating, he didn't show it. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the boy's energy. He reminded him of his master.
Keisha
Master Elisha, I think the Jordan just swallowed my body weight in sweat. Does this count as a baptism?
Elisha
No. But if you keep swinging like that, it might count as your funeral.
Reuben
Kesha's just mad because he's the worst axeman here.
Keisha
That's because. Because I didn't come here to chop trees, Reuben. I came here to learn how to hear Yahweh's voice.
Elisha
And do you think Yahweh's voice is going to make you a bigger house? Because if it does, you're not hearing Yahweh. You're hearing your own wishful thinking.
Narrator
The students laughed, though some of them were clearly more focused on not splitting their own feet open than on Elisha's wit. Keisha, however, wasn't ready to let it go.
Keisha
You're telling me the Lord who parted the sea and brought fire down from heaven can't drop a few trees for us?
Elisha
He is chopping trees, my boy, through the able arms of his young prophets. Praise be to God that we get to play a part in his noble work.
Narrator
And then, as if the Jordan itself had been waiting for the perfect moment to interrupt, there was a sharp crack, followed by a splash.
Keisha
Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no, no.
Reuben
What did you do?
Keisha
It wasn't me. The axe head. It flew off. Look, it's sinking.
Narrator
All eyes Turned to the water. Sure enough, the iron axe head was now disappearing into the murky depths of the Jordan.
Reuben
Isn't that your uncle's axe?
Keisha
Yep. Why do you think I'm panicking?
Elisha
Because you don't trust the Lord.
Narrator
The group turned to Elisha, who had stepped forward. His tone was casual but pointed.
Keisha
Are you about to tell me that the lord is going to use the able body of his young prophet to retrieve the axe? I'll stop you there. I can't swim.
Elisha
You spend far too much energy complaining, worrying and reeling about what can't be done. It must be exhausting.
Narrator
Elisha bent down, picking up a stick from the ground. His students watched their laughter fading into a tense, curious silence.
Reuben
What's that stick supposed to do?
Narrator
Shh.
Elisha
I'm obviously trying to be a mysterious prophet. Quit ruining my lesson with your questions. Just watch.
Narrator
With a practiced flick of his wrist, Elisha tossed the stick into the water. The water rippled, and then, impossibly, the iron axe head floated to the surface, bobbing as though it were weightless.
Keisha
It's. It's. How is it even possible?
Elisha
Possible? Kisha, do you know the story of Moses? The man who raised his staff and split the sea in two? Or did you just scare skim over that part when you were learning the law?
Keisha
Of course I know the story. I just. This is different.
Elisha
That's because it's an axe head, not an ocean. Yahweh doesn't struggle with scale. The question isn't whether he can. It's whether you actually trust him to do it. And from the look on your face, I'd say you don't.
Reuben
Then why not summon such miracles more often? Signs like these not convince people to turn back to the Lord.
Elisha
If only my master Elijah summoned fire from heaven not once, but twice. The people were stirred initially, but then went back to their ways. It's not about the sign performed, but the truth the signs communicate to us today. The lesson given to you is about trust. Trust that the Lord cares for the axe head, the small, insignificant things.
Narrator
Kisha waded into the water slowly, his movements careful, as though the river might demand payment before giving the axe head back. When his fingers closed around the iron, he lifted it from the surface, water streaming down its sides like tears. He turned to Elisha, his face a mixture of embarrassment and wonderful.
Keisha
I thought I trusted him, but maybe I didn't. Not like this.
Elisha
Good. Now you know. Trust starts small, Kisha, like an axe head in a river. But it doesn't stay there. One day, you need to Trust him for something much bigger. Your Red Sea moment, as it were. When that day comes, remember this.
Narrator
The group stood in silence, the weight of Elisha's words settling over them. Keisha, still clutching the dripping axe head, stared at the prophet, his earlier frustration now replaced by awe. For a moment, the Jordan's gentle flow seemed to reflect something greater, a reminder that God's power moved quietly beneath the surface of all things. Reuben broke the silence, his voice cutting through the stillness but carrying a note of unease.
Reuben
Master, is it true what they say? That you can hear the Lord's voice even in Ben Hadad's war room? That you know what the Arameans are planning before they do?
Narrator
The rumors had been whispered among the prophets for weeks, but now, with Israel's enemies pressing harder against the nation's borders and they felt less like gossip and more like prophecy. Elisha raised an eyebrow, his expression hovering somewhere between amusement and exasperation.
Elisha
Ah, so that's what you really want to learn. Not how to trust, but how to spy?
Reuben
No. Just. Well, maybe a little.
Elisha
And what would you do with that power? Eavesdrop on your little enemies? Or perhaps listen through the walls to hear what Miriam thinks about you?
Narrator
The group burst into laughter. Elisha leaned on his staff and surveyed the group.
Elisha
Let me tell you this. Hearing God's voice isn't about knowing secrets for your own gain. It's about trust. The kind of trust that lets you act when he calls and stays silent when he doesn't. If you want that, you'd better learn to listen and stop looking for shortcuts.
Narrator
The students fell quiet, their eyes fixed on Elisha. Somewhere in the distance, the Jordan flowed on its waters, carrying both the memory of the axe and the lesson that none of them would soon forget. In the war room of the King of Aram, the king paced like a caged animal. His heavy boots echoed on the stone floor as he gestured wildly to array of maps and figurines on the table before him, each one marking a plan that had failed spectacularly. The throne nearby was studiously ignored because sitting down implied composure, and the King of Aram had none left.
Reuben
Explain it to me again. How does Joram, that quivering, spineless, milk drinking whelp of a king, always know what I'm doing?
Narrator
His generals, advisors, and assorted sycophants stood silently, their expressions frozen somewhere between fear and discomfort.
Reuben
Joram couldn't lead a parade, but somehow he manages to say, one step ahead of me.
Narrator
He slammed his fist onto the table, sending a figurine of a chariot Skittering across the map. The generals flinched in unison, and one particularly unfortunate advisor let out an audible squeak.
Reuben
A spy. That's the only explanation. There's a spy in my ranks, isn't there?
Narrator
He turned on the room like a wolf circling a flock of sheep, his eyes narrowing at each face in turn.
Reuben
Which one of you is it who's been whispering my plans to that overgrown child with Telosians of kingship?
Narrator
Your majesty, if I may.
Reuben
You may not. Unless you're about to confess, in which case, yes. By all means, speak.
Narrator
The advisor stepped forward cautiously, like a man approaching a very angry bear. It's not. It's not a spy, your majesty.
Reuben
Oh, no? Then what is it? Sorcery. A divine intervention. Don't tell me Joram actually developed a spine. It would be the first backbone in that family for generations.
Narrator
It's Elisha, your majesty.
Reuben
Elisha? The Prophet?
Narrator
Yes, your majesty. It is said. He. He hears things. Everything, in fact. Even the words you whisper and the sounds you make in your bedroom. The king's face shifted from confusion to horror, then to a kind of mortified rage.
Reuben
In my bedroom? My private conversations. My private sounds.
Narrator
A muffled snicker escaped from somewhere in the back of the room, though it was quickly stifled when the king's glare swept the table like a scythe. Where is this Elisha?
Reuben
Tell me where he's hiding.
Narrator
In Dorthan, your majesty. A small city, lightly defended.
Reuben
Lightly defended, you say? Then I'll make sure it's not defended at all. Prepare the army. If Elisha can hear my whispers, let him hear this. I'm coming for him. I won't rest until his head is mounted on my wall. To Dothan.
Narrator
The king swept out of the room, his cloak billowing behind him. Far away in Dothan, Elisha remained untroubled. The prophet had already heard far more than the king realized. Kisha hauled the bucket from the well, water sloshing over the sides. The morning was quiet, the first light brushing the hills of Dothan with gold. He exhaled, savoring the calm. Then he heard it. A low, rhythmic thunder. Hooves marching. The hills were alive with soldiers. Spears glinted like fire. Horses snorted their breath, clouds in the cool air. Chariots stood in endless rows, dark and menacing. Kisha dropped the bucket.
Keisha
Dear God.
Narrator
The water splashed across his feet. Unnoticed, Kisha turned and ran, his heart pounding harder than the drums of war.
Keisha
Master Elisha. Master.
Narrator
His voice cracked as he turned, sprinting toward Elisha, who was standing a short distance away, leaning on his staff. The prophet didn't Even glance at the army. His gaze was calm, steady, fixed on some distant point that Kisha couldn't see.
Keisha
They're here. The army. They've surrounded us. There's no way out. Master, do you hear me?
Elisha
I hear you, Kisha. I also hear your knees knocking together. It's distracting.
Keisha
How are you this calm? Do you not see what's out there?
Elisha
I see it.
Keisha
Then why aren't you panicking? They'll kill us. They'll kill everyone. We're outnumbered a hundred. No, a thousand to one.
Narrator
Elisha finally turned to him, his face unreadable, but his voice firm.
Elisha
You're wrong. What?
Keisha
How can you.
Elisha
We're not outnumbered.
Narrator
Kisha froze, his fear momentarily overtaken by confusion. Elisha stepped closer, his gaze sharp, almost piercing.
Elisha
There are more on our side than theirs.
Reuben
More?
Keisha
What are you talking about? It's just us. The city has you, me, the other students, and a few farmers and herders.
Narrator
Keisha gestured wildly toward the hills, where the Aramean army stood like a silent avalanche, waiting to fall. Elisha placed a hand on his shoulder, steady and unshakable.
Elisha
Remember the Red Sea, Kisha. Remember Moses standing before the waters with Pharaoh's army at his back. Did he panic? Did he run?
Keisha
No, but.
Elisha
But nothing. The Lord didn't abandon Moses, and he hasn't abandoned us. This is your moment of faith, Kisha. Your Red Sea moment. Stop looking at what frightens you and trust in what you cannot see.
Narrator
Kisha's breathing slowed, but his face remained taut with fear. Elisha closed his eyes, lifting his head toward the sky.
Elisha
Lord God. Open his eyes so that he might see.
Narrator
The air shifted, heavy and electric, as though the world itself held its breath. Kisha blinked, and when he opened his eyes again, everything was different. The hills that had seemed full of enemies now burned with light. Horses and chariots of fire stood upon the ridges, their forms glowing with an otherworldly brilliance. The army of heaven surrounded the army of Aram, their numbers vast, their presence overwhelming. The sight was so magnificent, so utterly beyond comprehension, that Kisha stumbled backward, his legs giving way beneath him.
Keisha
It's.
Elisha
It's Yahweh's army. Angelic beings, each with more power and a single finger than all the armies of the earth combined. They've always been here, Kisha. You just couldn't see them until now.
Narrator
Kisha knelt on the ground, his eyes wide, tears streaming down his face as he stared at the heavenly host.
Keisha
Master, I. I didn't know.
Elisha
Now you do. Remember this, Kisha. Trust isn't about seeing it's about believing in what you cannot see. Yahweh has always been fighting for his people.
Narrator
A horn blared from the Aramean camp, breaking the moment the enemy army began its march, their footsteps shaking the earth. Kisha scrambled to his feet, his awe replaced by renewed panic.
Keisha
They're coming. What do we do now?
Reuben
We pray.
Narrator
Elisha stepped forward, raising his staff. As the first ranks of the Aramean army drew closer to his voice rang out, clear and commanding.
Elisha
Lord of Heaven's armies, strike them with blindness.
Narrator
The shift was immediate. Soldiers stopped mid charge, stumbling and clutching their faces. Cries of confusion rippled through the ranks as the once mighty force dissolved into chaos. The Arameans groped at the air, their weapons falling uselessly to the ground, killing. Keisha stood frozen, his jaw slack as he watched the miracle unfold. Awe, faith, trust. It was all there, blooming like fire in his chest. Elisha turned back toward the blinded army, his staff in hand, his voice steady and sure.
Elisha
Let's go, my boy. They're not done learning their lesson yet.
Narrator
The two walked forward, stepping into the chaos with the confidence of men who knew exactly who was fighting for them.
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Yael Eckstein
If your faith has been kindled by this podcast and it has affected your life, we'd love it if you left a review. We read them and me personal Personally, I cherish them. As you venture forth boldly and faithfully, I leave you with the Biblical Blessing from Numbers 6. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you. May he be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace.
Narrator
Amen.
Production Announcer
You can listen to the Chosen People with Yael Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the pray.com app today. This pray.com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Schellewager and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of the Chosen People with Yael Eckstein. Edited by Alberto Avila Narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Jr. Rosanna Pilcher and Mitch Lashinsky and the opening prayer.
Narrator
Is voiced by John Moore.
Production Announcer
Music by Andrew Morgan Smith. Written by Aaron Salvato, Bree Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin Van Etten, Caleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, Rabbi Edward Abramson and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Pray.com productions on the Pray.com app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed the Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.
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Podcast Host
This is an I Heart podcast.
Episode Title: Elisha & The Floating Axe
Date: September 2, 2025
Podcast Host: Yael Eckstein (with dramatic narration and dialogue)
This episode transports listeners into the heart of two iconic biblical stories about the prophet Elisha – the miracle of the floating axe head and the deliverance of Dothan from the Aramean army. Through vibrant dramatization, witty banter, and poignant reflection, the episode explores the theme of trust in God’s power for both the mundane and the miraculous. Central to these tales is the message: true faith begins in small acts of trust and grows to sustain us through the greatest trials.
The young members of the Guild of Prophets find themselves far from the glamour they imagined, laboring under the hot sun, felling trees to expand their humble dwelling.
Dialogue reveals camaraderie, teasing, and their reluctance for physical work:
"If you think this is beneath you, Reuben, wait until I send you to dig ditches. You'll miss the glamour of tree cutting." – Elisha (06:01)
When Keisha accidentally loses a borrowed axe head in the Jordan River, he panics, highlighting the practical realities and anxieties of everyday faith.
Elisha responds not with frustration, but with calm assurance and gentle rebuke.
He performs the miracle:
"Possible? Keisha, do you know the story of Moses?... Yahweh doesn't struggle with scale. The question isn't whether he can. It's whether you actually trust him to do it." – Elisha (10:31)
A crucial lesson emerges:
"Trust starts small, Keisha, like an axe head in a river. But it doesn't stay there. One day, you need to trust him for something much bigger. Your Red Sea moment, as it were." – Elisha (12:03)
Reuben asks why such miracles aren’t performed more often to inspire belief.
"It's not about the sign performed, but the truth the signs communicate to us today. The lesson...is about trust. Trust that the Lord cares for the axe head, the small, insignificant things." – Elisha (11:09)
Rumors swirl that Elisha can hear enemy plans, planting the real desire in his young disciples: access to supernatural insight.
Elisha refocuses the group:
"Hearing God's voice isn't about knowing secrets for your own gain. It's about trust. The kind of trust that lets you act when he calls and stays silent when he doesn't." – Elisha (13:54)
Keisha awakes to Dothan surrounded by the Aramean army and races to Elisha in terror:
"They're here. The army. They've surrounded us. There's no way out. Master, do you hear me?" – Keisha (19:25)
Elisha, radiating calm, reassures him:
"There are more on our side than theirs." – Elisha (20:17)
Elisha prays for Keisha’s eyes to be opened; Keisha beholds chariots and horses of fire—God’s angelic army protecting them.
"They've always been here, Keisha. You just couldn't see them until now...Trust isn't about seeing it's about believing in what you cannot see." – Elisha (22:08, 22:35)
As the enemy advances, Elisha prays and God blinds the Aramean army, reducing the threat to chaos.
"Lord of Heaven's armies, strike them with blindness." – Elisha (23:18)
Elisha leads Keisha and the trembling prophets forward, shining with the assurance that God is ever on their side.
Through two intertwined narratives—the recovery of what seems trivial and the deliverance from overwhelming threat—this episode beautifully underscores the nature of trust in God. Elisha’s calm, wisdom, and humor; the relatable doubts of his disciples; the blindness and bluster of antagonists; and the ever-present, often-unseen help of God combine to paint a living picture of faith for listeners.
"Trust starts small...But it doesn’t stay there. One day, you need to trust him for something much bigger. Your Red Sea moment, as it were." – Elisha (12:03)
For listeners, the story is a call: Dare to trust God with the small things today—so you’ll be ready for the miracles and battles of tomorrow.